Eastern Railroad Discussion > The Rockville Tragedy, 4/11/1935

90 years ago, this tragic school bus/train grade crossing accident became the worst such accident in the State of Maryland. It also had national impact as President F.D. Roosevelt started a 200 million dollar program (1935 dollars) to eliminate grade crossings.
An excellent book entitled "The Rockville Tragedy" is still available at modest price from Amazon.
The accident happened on the rainy and foggy night of April 11, 1935, at the now-closed Baltimore Rd. crossing, just east of the B&O Rockville,MD. station.
The chartered school bus was hauling over 2 dozen students, plus their teacher, back to Williamsport,MD., from an all-day science fair at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD.
The crossing at Baltimore Rd., was protected by a flagman from 6a.m., to 10p.m., but there was only an automatic bell at 11:30pm. The bus crossed in front of a B&O express passenger train traveling in excess of 55 mph that slammed into the bus, sending the bus, debris, and bodies along the right of way for 1700 ft.

First 2 photos show damage to exterior and interior of bus, man in uniform cap holding light in 2nd pic is Chief W. Valentine Wilson of the Rockville VFD, which responded their fleet of Mack fire engines and rescue trucks. The RVFD, assisted by other local VFDs,searched the accident site for dead and injured students, who were then taken by ambulance or private car to local hospitals.
3rd pic shows the crossing the next morning.

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Some news articles regarding the accident. By 1937, money allocated by FDR's program  resulted in a new bridge nearby that eliminated the dangerous crossing.

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Had to be a most horrible experience for all involved.  Oh my.